It’s expected that Manchester City will announce the signing of exciting young forward Julian Alvarez in the coming days.
The Blues have reportedly agreed on a deal in the region of £18million with River Plate to sign the forward.
Reports suggest he’s set to sign a five-year contract at the Etihad, but will remain at River Plate on loan until July at the earliest.
The move comes on the back of what’s been a remarkable season for the 21-year-old in Argentina, scoring 24 goals and registering 15 assists in 46 club appearances.
This standout attacking return put Alvarez firmly on the map for many top European clubs, even if it’s traditionally unusual to see Europe’s biggest clubs buy directly from South America.
One of the clubs tentatively linked with Alvarez was City’s rivals Manchester United, although according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, they were never close to signing him once the Blues solidified their interest.
Best described as a fluid forward, Alvarez’s ability means he can operate anywhere across a front line, yet he is undoubtedly at his most dangerous playing through the middle as a centre-forward.
River Plate are fairly adaptable in their tactical approach, playing a variety of formations. Consequently, this can see Alvarez operating as a lone striker, in a front two or even as part of an attacking three. Yet in each, he thrives.
Standing at just 5ft 7in, he is tenacious and clever with his movement, working himself into good shooting locations on a regular basis. Alvarez’s height also gives him a low centre of gravity, aiding his pace and dribbling skill, each of which are standout traits in the young forward.
Inevitably, Alvarez’s style of play, plus the fact he’s now a fully-fledged Argentian international, has led to comparisons between him and City legend Sergio Aguero.
And the similarities between the two are just as much by design than by chance, with Alvarez stating in the past he’s a huge admirer of the former City man.
"I like Kun Aguero a lot and I try to copy his movements," he said in an interview with La Nacion in 2019.
It’s not just what he does with the ball that makes him an ideal City recruit, but also his impact without it.
At River Plate, he’s a key trigger for his side’s pressing, and notably according to the metric PPDA, River Plate have the most aggressive press in the whole of the Argentine Primera Division.
City are of course a high pressing unit and regularly top the same metric in the Premier League, meaning Alvarez has been reared in the ideal environment in which to excel and maybe even one day emulate the success his idol Aguero once enjoyed.
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